[Extract]
My Dear Friend

Your letter by Captn [Thomas] Bell I receivd & immediately took measures for procuring a vessel of Force for him ー I had the good Fortune to meet Mr Cunningham here, who agreed for his house. The Vessel is pro posd to carry 20 nine pounders & 150 men & I hope will sail in 20 days from this time on a cruise ー The difficulty is in procuring men, France arming calls for all her Seamen ー As to Commerce Mr Delap fitted out a brig on our joint acct, viz 1/3 to your house 1/3 to me & 1/3 to himself; She has saild some time ー Mr Bromfeild sailed with a cargo of goods addressed to your house to the amount of one hundred thousand Livres; These are all the joint concerns I have taken. Insurance is not yet obtaind in Europe on acct of the extreme unsettled state of affairs here & the expectation of a war breaking out suddenly at Sea; which renders every thing uncertain . . .